Texas Climate Report Challenges Claims Of Worsening Extreme Weather

AUSTIN, Texas (TXAN 24) — A new climate assessment focused on Texas challenges some recent claims that worsening extreme weather is evidence of an accelerating climate crisis, while emphasizing long-term weather and agricultural data from federal agencies.

The Texas assessment, produced by The Heartland Institute’s ClimateAtAGlance project, says Texas has not experienced a sustained increase in days reaching 100 degrees or more. The report cites NOAA data showing those extremely hot days occur slightly less frequently today than during portions of the 1920s through the 1950s.

The report also says Texas’ recent droughts remain within the range of historical drought conditions and points to the severe drought of the 1950s as the state’s worst long-term drought in the modern record.

Heartland’s assessment further argues that federal data show no increasing trend in Texas hurricanes or tornadoes and no increase in wildfire activity since 2006.

The report highlights Texas agriculture as another area of improvement. It says cotton yields per acre have increased 168% since 1900, while corn yields have increased 575%.

The assessment’s conclusions are disputed by many climate scientists, who generally attribute long-term warming trends primarily to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

The report uses data from NOAA, USDA and other federal sources.